Austin Rivers working out at Shooting Guard in lieu of Gordon per Times-Picayune

quote:``Eric’s out so I kind of have to move over,’’ Rivers said. ``I’ve been playing (shooting guard) most of my life anyway, so I’m naturally comfortable at it.’’

In the scrimmage, Rivers said he tried to attack offensively, especially after Williams' opting to use a 14-second shot clock instead of the regulation 24-second.

quote:``Our guard play is average at best right now and we’ve got to get better,’’ Williams said. ``I think the defense is where we can probably make our mark right away. We have so many new guys and they don’t know each other in our schemes.’’

Williams said Vasquez’s is going have to improve his pick-and-roll defense and Rivers as expected has had some lapses trying to learn his system.

``You know young guys have those lapses and he’s no different,’’ Williams said. ``The younger guys usually mess up your plays more because they don’t know the languages and the spacing. But he’s doing fine; he works at it. He and Greivis compete at everything and that’s good. We’ve got healthy competition in our gym.’’